AFTER drawing criticism, Benguet Caretaker Eric Go Yap wants the new coronavirus disease (Covid-19) facility at the Benguet General Hospital (BeGH) to be renamed "United Benguet Building."

The new molecular biology laboratory was unveiled Saturday, September 12, 2020, with a tarpaulin bearing the name of Yap. This drew in flak on social media after a netizen called out the solon about the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memorandum Circular 2010-101, which states that government personalities must not place names or images of officials on billboards and signages of government programs, projects and properties.

Yap stated he was surprised seeing the tarpaulin bearing his name and asked the BeGH management for his name to be removed and for the building to be renamed.

He clarified this week that the funds for the construction of the building, facilities and equipment for the laboratory are from his own money.

“Napunta po sa aking atensiyon mayroon isang vlogger po na nagpost po siya, pinost po niya na bakit daw pinangalanan sa akin iyong hospital sa Benguet, iyong laboratory tinatanong po niya kung pera ko daw po ba iyon. Unang una ang sagot ko, opo pera ko po iyon, dinonate ko at hindi ko po alam na ganoon po ang ginawa ng taga Benguet Gen, out of gratitude. Ngayon po, noong nalaman ko iyon at nakita ko iyon, kinausap ko kaagad iyong head ng Benguet Gen, na please po tanggalin iyong pangalan ko at ilagay nila ang pangalang Benguet,” Yap said during the House budget Hearing for the Office of the President on Monday.

Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas also said the name of the building is not final.

Diclas added an ordinance must be ratified by the Provincial Board for a building to be named after an individual.

“Actually, han met nga final diyay. Syempre nu ikabil ti maysa nagan ti building, kailangan met lng ti Sangguniang Panlalawigan ordinance tanu maikabil ti nagan ti maysa nga tao idjay,” the governor stated.

Full operation of the molecular laboratory at BeGH in La Trinidad, Benguet is eyed next month to boost the Covid-19 testing capacity of Benguet province and help decongest the testing being done at one of the sub-national laboratories for Covid-19, the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center.